ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Hamad Al Mutawa, a 41-year-old Emirati sailor, has embarked on one of the most challenging ocean adventures in the world, becoming the first Arab youth to participate in the prestigious Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
Sailing aboard the yacht Warrant, Al Mutawa joins more than 500 amateur sailors from 37 nations in a test of human endurance and resilience across six of the world’s great oceans.
The race, now in its 14th edition, set sail last week from Portsmouth, UK, on August 31 and will cover more than 40,000 nautical miles (74,000km) over eight gruelling legs before returning to British shores next summer.
Speaking about his son’s historic participation, his father, Ahmed Al Mutawa, a businessman, expressed both pride and emotion.
“With great pride, our son is taking part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, on board the sailing yacht Warrant, becoming the first Arab youth to embark on this prestigious competition,” he told Aletihad.
“Despite the dangers of the journey and the difficulties of crossing oceans, he insisted on participating, driven by his great passion for adventure and the spirit of challenge – and we stand by him with all our pride, the father said.
“This experience is not just a personal achievement, but a source of pride for us as an Emirati family, and a message that our youth are capable of excelling globally in the toughest and most daring adventures. We wish him success and safety in this historic journey, and may he raise the name of the UAE high among the nations, he added.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is widely regarded as the world’s greatest ocean adventure. Founded in 1995 by Robin Knox-Johnston – the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world – the race is unique in that its crew members are largely non-professionals. In fact, around 200 of this year’s participants had never set foot on a yacht before undergoing four weeks of intensive training.
Crews sail 24 hours a day for up to 30 consecutive days, braving hurricane-force winds, searing heat, the isolation of open oceans, and the challenge of living in close quarters with stripped-back facilities. The 2025-26 edition features stopovers in Spain, Uruguay, South Africa, Australia, the Philippines, China, Korea, the United States, Panama, and back to the UK.
For Al Mutawa, who represents not only his family but also the broader spirit of Emirati resilience, the journey is more than a personal challenge – it is a chance to inspire. His participation signals the growing role of the UAE in global sporting and cultural arenas, and reflects the nation’s embrace of adventure, endurance, and international exchange.